Vault



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J. A. PATTERSON VAULT Filed oct. 27, 1957 2 sheets-Sheet 1 orneys 2Sheets-Sheet 2 J. l0, 139. J. APAT-ransom VAULT File@ OC. 27, 1937forneys Patented `Ian. 10, 1939 UNITED STATES VAULT Joseph A. Patterson,Brave, Pa., assignor to The 'Patterson BurialVault Trust, Brave, Pa.

Application `October 27., 1937, Serial .'No. 171,304

5 Claims.

vThis invention relates to burial .Vaults andan object of the inventionis `,to provide a waterproof vault which when sealed will positivelyprotect the casket from moisture.

Further, an object of the invention is to provide `an improved concretelburial vault which will be 4substantially absolutely moisture-proof.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a burial vaulthaving no metal or the like exposed to ith'e .elements and .consequentlyapt to rust to the end .that the vault would be caused to deteriorate on4account o-f rust.

Among other objects of the invention is 'the provision of a vaultcharacterized by simplicity and economy of construction.

The invention together with its `objects and advantages will be bestunderstood from `a vstudy of the following description taken in`connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:-

Figure l is a perspective view of the vault.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal :sectional view 'through the sealed vault.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view through the sealed vault.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary detail corner Vview showing the parts justprior to a sealing of the vault.

Figure 5is afragrnentary vertical sectional view through a corner of thevault.

30 Figure 6 is a fragmentary vertical sectional View showing the vaultsealed.

Referring to the drawings by reference numerals it vwill be seen thatthe improved vault i comprises a bottom, side and end walls, and 'that'30 these walls each include an outer facing `5 of concrete, and ofsuitable thickness, and an inner facing 6 of concrete of slightly vlessthickness. Between the faces 5 and 6 isa vfiller I of waterproofmaterial, preferably asphalt.

The concrete faces 5 and 6 are reinforced throughout by verticalreinforcing rods 8 and horizontal reinforcing rods V9 thus providing astrong, durable and efficient structure, it being understood in thisconnection that the 1ods8 that extend vertically are embedded in theconcrete faces 5 and 6 vertically of the vertical walls, while thereinforcing rods 9 .are embedded in the concrete faces of the bottomWall.

Also, and as best .shown in Figures 4 and 6, the inner concrete faces Bfor the side and end walls at their upper edges terminate substantiallyco-planar with the intermediate layer 'I of asphalt, and below the upperedges of the outer facings 5 of the Vertical walls so as to pro vide asupport for a lid indicated generally Aby the reference numeral I0.

The lid I is constructed in substantially the same manner as arefthewallsof the vault in that, andas clearly shownfin Figure 4, fthe lid I0comprises an outer concretefacing II reinforced as at I 2, an innerconcrete facing I3 reinforced as at I4, and a layer I of asphaltinterposed between the concrete faces I I `and ,1.3.

'The Vinner face I3 of reinforced concrete is of `slightly greaterdimensions than the outer reinforcedconcrete face :II andthe asphalt I5,and said inner face I3 is of also materially less dimensionsthan'thezvault body so that at the marginal :edge `portions -thereof theface I3 of said lidfrests on the inner :reinforced concrete faces 6ofthe vertical `wal-ls as 4clearly shown in Figure 4. Thus .afspace `Iiiis left between the edges of the lid and the `.upperportion of the outerfacings 5 for a sealing medium I8 of asphalt. When the sealing mediumVIll is placed in space fIB Ait forms a continuation of thewater-proofing layer T and provides an effective seal for the vault.

To Vinsure a -thorough locking `or binding of the sealing :material I8the outer faces 5 of the vertical walls of the vault adjacent their`upper edges are provided on their inner surfaces with grooves 2|, whileat the upper edges thereof said faces 5 are rabbeted as at 22 andgrooved as at `23 while the 4top face Il of the lid Ill at its marginaledge is rabbeted as at 24 and grooved as at 25; the sealing medium beingreceived in the grooves .2 I, 23, 25 and between `the rabbeted edges 22o-f the walls 5 and 24 of thelid face II as best shown in Figures 4 and6 thereby insuring a positive seal for the vault.

Further in accordance with the present invention the lid .I0 at spacedpoints in the edges of the reinforced concrete face I6 of said lid isprovided with hand accommodating recesses 2U as shown in Figure 4 tofacilitate handling of the lid.

To provide a cushion for the lid I0 when positioned for closing thevault the inner faces 6 of the vertical walls of the vault are providedin their upper edges with grooves 26 and at the eX- tended m-arginaledge thereof the inner face I3 of the lid IIJ vis provided on itsunderside with a continuous groove 2 'I -complemental to the groove 2B,and accommodated within the complemental grooves 26, 21 is a cushioningelement 28 consisting of asphalt.

Also for guiding the lid I0 into proper seated position the inner face.I3 of the lid immediately adjacent 'the .groove 21 is provided with acontinuous depending rib 29 that is substantially V-shaped in crosssection and as clearly shown in Figure 4.

It will be understood that the outer surfaces of the concrete faces 5and the inner surfaces of the concrete faces 6 may be finished oif toprovide a suitable exterior finish and interior lining of a decorativecharacter for the vault.

Also in accordance with the present invention and to further assureagainst the accumulation of moisture within the vault the inner faces Sof the walls of the vault for the entire bottom of the vault, and to amaterial point upwardly on the faces 6 of the vertical walls of thevault are covered with a coating 30 having absorbing qualities, thecoating 30 being preferably composed of sand, glue and cement mixed inthe desired proportions and worked to the desired consistency. Such acoating, as shown at 3G, and described, will serve to absorb such liquidas may issue from the corpse. Thus in this manner will the bottom of thevault be maintained dry and free of moisture.

Also, interiorly of the vault, on the bottom thereof, are transversesupports 3| of concrete or other suitable material for supporting thecasket above the bottom of the vault.

In the manufacture of the vault, the same is cast substantially in asingle operation, that is to say first the concrete for the outerfacings 5 of the walls of the vault are cast in a suitable mold. Afterthe concrete for forming these faces has set and dried the mold isremoved, or rather spaced relative to the set concrete when the asphaltmaterial is then poured into the mold and permitted to set for formingthe water-proofing layer 7. When the water-proofing material has set andhardened the mold is further revised to provide a space for the concreteused in the setting of the concrete faces 6 and thus the concrete faces5 and 5 and the water-proof intermediate layer 'l are cast substantiallyas one so as to provide an integral water-proof structure. The castingof the lid is accomplished in substantially the same manner, it beingunderstood that as in the case with the vault proper rst one layer thenthe other forming the lid I0 is cast in the same mold.

A vault embodying the features of the present invention will not belikely to crack and crumble, is strong and durable, water-proof, andwhen sealed will serve to preserve the casket in its original state foran indenite period of time.

It is thought that a clear understanding of the construction, utilityand advantages of an invention of this character will be had without amore detailed description.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new iszl. Aburial vault comprising a body composed of inner and outer membersspaced apart and a central member of waterproof material placed betweenthe members, the outer member having its upper portion extending beyondthe upper edges of the inner and center members, a lid composed of innerand outer members spaced apart and a central member of waterproofmaterial placed between said inner and outer members, the inner memberof the lid being of greater length and width than the other members ofthe lid and of a length and width equal to the overall length and widthof the inner member of the body, whereby the 4edge portion of the innermember of the lid will rest on the upper edges of the inner member ofthe body when the lid is placed on the upper portion of the body, theupper face of the lid being substantially flush with the upper edge ofthe outer member of the body when the lid is in place, the edges of theupper and central members of the lid forming an open top chamber withthe upper portions of the outer member of the body and sealing materialplaced in said chamber, such material contacting with the centralmembers of the body and lid when in place.

2. A burial vault comprising a body composed of inner and outer membersspaced apart and a central member of waterproof material placed betweenthe members, the outer member having its upper portion extending beyondthe upper edges of the inner and center members, a lid composed of innerand outer members spaced apart and a central member of waterproofmaterial placed between said inner and outer members, the inner memberof the lid being of greater length and width than the other members ofthe lid and of a length and width equal to the overall length and widthof the inner member of the body, whereby the edge portion of the innermember of the lid will rest on the upper edges of the inner member ofthe body when the lid is placed on the upper portion of the body, theupper face of the lid being substantially flush with the upper edge ofthe outer member of the body when the lid is in place, the edges of theupper and central members of the lid forming an open top chamber withthe upper portions of the outer member of the body and sealing materialplaced in said cham,- ber, such material contacting with the centralmembers of the body and lid when in place, the inner portion of theupper edge of the outer member of the body having a recess therein andthe upper portion of the edge of the outer member of the lid having arecess therein, said recesses forming side extensions for the upper partof the chamber and receiving some of the sealing material.

3. A burial vault comprising a body composed of inner and outer membersspaced apart and a central member of waterproof material placed betweenthe members, the outer member having its upper portion extending beyondthe upper edges of the inner and center members, a lid composed of innerand outer members spaced apart and a central member of waterproofmaterial placed between said inner and outer members, the inner memberof the lid being of greater length and width than the other members ofthe lid and of a length and width equal to the overall length and widthof the inner member of the body, whereby the edge portion of the innermember of the lid will rest on the upper edges of the inner member ofthe body when the lid is placed on the upper portion of the body, theupper face of the lid being substantially flush with the upper edge ofthe outer member of the body when the lid is in place, the edges of theupper and central members of the lid forming an open top chamber withthe upper portions of the outer member of the body and sealing materialplaced in said chamber, such material contacting with the centralmembers of the body and lid when in place, the inner portion of theupper edge of the outer member of the body having a recess therein andthe upper portion of the edge of the outer member of the lid having arecess therein, said recesses forming side extensions for the upper partof the chamber and receiving some of the sealing material, the upperedge of the inner member of the body having a groove therein and theunder face of the edge portion of the inner member of the lid having agroove therein and sealing means placed in the space formed by the twogrooves.

4. A burial vault comprising a body composed of inner and outer membersspaced apart and a central member of waterproof material placed betweenthe members, the outer member having its upper portion extending beyondthe upper edges of the inner and center members, a lid composed of innerand outer members spaced apart and a central member of waterproofmaterial placed between said inner and outer members, the inner memberof the lid being of greater length and Width than the other members ofthe lid and of a length and width equal to the overall length and widthof the inner member of the body, whereby the edge portion of the innermember of the lid will rest on the upper edges of the inner member ofthe body when the lid is placed on the upper portion of the body, theupper face of the lid being substantially flush with the upper edge ofthe outer member of the body when the lid is in place, the edges of theupper and central members of the lid forming an open top chamber withthe upper portion of the outer member of the body and sealing materialplaced in said chamber, such material contacting with the centralmembers of the body and lid when in place, the inner portion of theupper edge of the outer member of the body having a recess therein andthe upper portion of the edge of the outer member of the lid having arecess therein, said recesses forming side extensions for the `upperpart of the chamber and receiving some of the sealing material, theupper edge of the inner member of the body having a groove therein andthe under face of the edge portion of the inner member of the lid havinga groove therein and sealing means placed in the space formed by the twogrooves, the inner face of the upper portion of the outer member of thebody having a groove therein which is in communication with the chamberand which receives some of the sealing material placed in the chamberand the under face of the edge portion of the outer member of the lidhaving recesses therein in communication with the chamber and forminghand holds and these recesses receiving some of the material.

5. A burial vault comprising a body composed of inner and outer membersspaced apart and a central member of waterproof material placed betweenthe members, the outer member having its upper portion extending beyondthe upper edges of the inner and center members, a lid composed of innerand outer members spaced apart and a central member of waterproofmaterial placed between said inner and outer members, the inner memberof the lid being of greater length and width than the other members ofthe lid and of a length and width equal to the overall length and widthof the inner member of the body, whereby the edge portion of the innermember of the lid will rest on the upper edges of the inner member ofthe body when the lid is placed on the upper portion of the body, theupper face of the lid being substantially ush with the upper edge of theouter member of the body when the lid is in place, the edges of theupper and central members of the lid forming an open top chamber withthe upper portions of the outer member of the body and sealing materialplaced in said chamber, such material contacting with the centralmembers of the body and lid when in place, said inner and outer membersand both the lid and the body being formed of reinforced concrete.

JOSEPH A. PATTERSON.

